Sure, you're probably disappointed in the health insurance bill. But you're not the only one:
Even the insurance industry is unhappy. Although the federal government will be requiring Americans to buy their products -- and providing subsidies worth billions -- insurers don't think the penalties are high enough.
Really puts our petty complaints into perspective, doesn't it?
AND: In case you're wondering:
Those who continue to go without coverage will have to pay a penalty to the IRS, except in cases of financial hardship. Fines vary by income and family size. For example, a single person making $45,000 would pay an extra $1,125 in taxes when the penalty is fully phased in, in 2016.
That's 2.5% of this hypothetical single person's salary. For comparison purposes, UnitedHealth Group had 2009 revenues of $87 billion, so a corresponding penalty of 2.5% for its numerous misdeeds would be roughly $2.2 billion. Which isn't high enough either, wouldn't you say? So you can see their point.
I'm reeling with the idea that American citizens will be FORCED to buy commercial products from certain corporations. It's like saying you MUST buy a car from Chevrolet, Ford, or Sexy Sedans of Upper Japip. Why aren't the implications of this a major subject for to the media and the general public? It's incredible that the dems are all perky and self-congratulatory about this highway robbery. Talk about a nail in the coffin--!
Posted by: Rosemary Molloy | Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 03:36 AM
Rosemary, The major media are the propaganda arm of corporate America. This is Fascist legislation in it's most blatant form and any impartial court that believes in democracy would already be ruling against it's legality.It makes me sick that the Dems would pass this Republican inspired abomination and be cheered on by a majority of the 'progressive' voices in our country.
Posted by: par4 | Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 05:14 AM
In the same way, through taxes, I have been FORCED to buy Lockheed, Honeywell, Raytheon, General Electric, &etc. weaponry used in illegal, aggressive "wars" -- wars in which citizens are slaughtered during baby-naming/wedding ceremonies. As bad as this forced health care coverage is (and it is bad), this is much, much worse.
Posted by: James Ferency | Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 06:00 AM
I'm reeling with the idea that American citizens will be FORCED to buy commercial products from certain corporations.
Agreed, it really is incredible. And while I can see the tax comparison, the difference is that in this case the government is acting as the enforcer on a private commercial transaction (rather than just spending its own revenues, i.e. our money, on various products of private commercial entities).
I never thought I'd find myself cheering on Republicans, but here we are. And that lawsuit might be the only beneficial side effect of the extraordinary cognitive dissonance over this topic (in which Democrats are celebrating the enshrining of a Republican ideal of mandated consumption, and Republicans are fighting tooth and nail to overturn something they've been arguing for for years). If by some miracle the attorneys general succeed in getting the mandate overturned, what's left of the health insurance bill might even be worthy of support.
Posted by: John Caruso | Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Be careful, Mr. Caruso. Cheering on Republicans makes you a Republican. Much as sympathy for "the insurgents" was once enough to make those selfsame Republicans cast you as "a terrorist."
Tsk.
Posted by: ms_xeno | Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 01:12 PM
"the extraordinary cognitive dissonance over this topic (in which Democrats are celebrating the enshrining of a Republican ideal of mandated consumption, and Republicans are fighting tooth and nail to overturn something they've been arguing for for years)."
this is perfect. and is part of why i wonder whether we even have it in us to carry on a sane and coherent debate on any issue of significance in this god-forsaken land. not only are we miles away from a rational health insurance model being enacted, but we're miles away from even being able to discuss the issue in a way that even slightly reflects reality. we're at 2 removes from real results and show no signs of getting any closer or even a desire to do so.
Posted by: druff | Monday, March 29, 2010 at 07:48 AM
Regarding those two removes, I saw a right-winger protesting the health insurance bill with a "God save our Republic" sign. This would be the same god who said "whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me," ordering those cursed people who'd failed to look after the sick to depart from him by way of example. So this yahoo is appealing to a god he doesn't understand to save him from a bill he doesn't understand, in direct contravention of said god's own divine word. The mind reels.
So yeah, miles away, or maybe light years is more like it.
Posted by: John Caruso | Monday, March 29, 2010 at 10:11 AM